Rocky Marciano retires as world heavyweight champion - Apr 27, 1956 - HISTORY.com Rocky Marciano retires as world heavyweight champion Share this: Rocky Marciano retires as world heavyweight champion Author Rocky Marciano retires as world heavyweight champion URL Publisher A+E Networks On April 27, 1956, world heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano retires from boxing at age 31, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. Marciano ended his career as the only heavyweight champion with a perfect record–49 wins in 49 professional bouts, with 43 knockouts. Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born into a working-class family in Brockton, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1923. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, he reportedly began boxing as a way to get out of kitchen duty and other less-than-desirable jobs. Marciano finished his military service in 1946 and continued to box as an amateur. He tried out for the Chicago Cubs, but his dream of becoming a pro baseball player ended when he was soon cut from the team.

He returned to boxing and fought his first professional match on March 17, 1947, defeating Lee Epperson in a third-round knockout. Marciano went on to win his next 15 matches by knockout. He became known as a tough fighter and powerful puncher, but he was criticized for his awkward style, which some though lacked finesse. On October 26, 1951, Marciano signaled to the boxing world that he was a contender when he faced former heavyweight champ Joe Louis and knocked him out in the eighth round. Marciano captured the heavyweight crown in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952, when he scored a knockout against defending champ Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round. Marciano faced Walcott again in Chicago on May 15, 1953, and defeated him in a first-round knockout. Marciano, nicknamed the “Brockton Blockbuster,” would successfully defend his title five more times, with his last professional bout, against Archie Moore in New York on September 21, 1955, ending in a ninth-round KO.

On April 27, 1956, Marciano announced his retirement from boxing and said he had no plans to return to the ring for a comeback. Marciano died in a small-plane crash in Iowa on August 31, 1969. Related Videos Fight Records of Past Boxing Greats Fight Records of Past Boxing Greats by Scotty L of Predictem.com In no other sport is a won-loss record as important as it is in boxing. Boxers carry around their record like a career report card for everyone to see. When their names are listed, their record is listed right below it, a sort of calling to attention of the boxersï¿½ triumphs and setbacks. In other individual sports, the participantï¿½s record is not as visible or important. Wrestlers, tennis players, and others seem to escape this constant brandishing of their personal won-loss records, but not in boxing. Also, in no other sport is a loss less tolerated than in boxing. This wasnï¿½t once the case, when boxers would often incur many losses before hitting their groove. Nowadays, a fighter with a handful of losses is relegated to the scrap heap.

Here are some of the greatest boxers and their fight records. Keep in mind, these greats fought at a time when losses were a more-accepted part of the game, largely as a result of having fought many more fights. Sugar Ray Robinson Fight Record: Wins: 173 Draws: 6 KOs: 108 The consensus greatest fighter of all timeï¿½s record is one to behold, especially when considering he lost 13 times after 1960, having turned pro all the way back in 1940. At one point, the legendary Sugar Man had a record of 128-1-2. He fought on far too long, therefore making his record a bit less sterling. The former Welterweight World Champion and five-time Middleweight World Champion defeated most worthwhile welterweights and middleweights over the course of two decades. Willie Pep Fight Record Draws: 1 Knockouts: 65 A few things jump out about the featherweight greatï¿½s phenomenal record. Only one draw in almost 250 fights is quite an anomaly and speaks towards Pepï¿½s level of dominance.

Only 11 losses is even more unbelievable when taking into account that Pep took at least a few dives in his career. He began his career at 62-0 and at one point in his championship reign; he had a lights-out record of 134-1-1. Muhammad Ali Fight Record Losses: 5 KOs: 37 While some fighters may have better records, very few had a more demanding schedule. Keeping in mind that Ali lost 3 of his last four fights, his record was an amazing 55-2 before losing his title in 1978. Winning 55 of 57 from 1960-1977, a very deep and dominant era of heavyweight boxing, is something to marvel at. He beat fellow Hall of Fame fighters Archie Moore, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and George Foreman. It doesnï¿½t get any better than that. Rocky Marciano Fight Record Losses: 0 KOs: 43 The former heavyweight great was no athletic marvel in the ring.

He looked like he had two left feet at times, bled copiously, and today would be considered a small cruiserweight. What he did have was unparalleled will, toughness, physical strength, and stamina. It was enough to become the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated. Some point to Rocky having fought in a weak era as evidence against his greatness. Hogwash. He cleaned out the division and retired without a compelling contender left in the top ten. Ricardo Lopez Fight Record Draw: 1 KOs: 38 Itï¿½s been said often by experienced boxing observers that if they could be any boxer, they would choose Ricardo Lopez. The perfect fighting machine combined exquisite boxing skills with power and otherworldly toughness to a ten-year reign and a record that shows no losses over 52 fights. Fighting at 105 pounds for most of his career didnï¿½t make him much of an attraction in the States, but ï¿½Finitoï¿½ was as good of a fighter as you would want to see.

Roberto Duran Fight Record Losses: 16 KOs: 70 Duran fought professionally from 1968-2001, fighting in every division from bantamweight (118 lbs.) to light heavyweight (175 lbs.). He dominated the lightweight division for most of the 70ï¿½s, and when he moved up and relieved Sugar Ray Leonard of his welterweight title in 1980, he was sitting pretty with a record of 72-1. He was hot and cold from that point, but still went on to win two more world titles and showed he could still provide magic, even well into his 40ï¿½s. Gene Tunney Fight Record Draws: 1 KOs: 48 Tunney used a scientific approach to dominate the sport. He lost to middleweight legend Harry Greb in his only defeat, but avenged that defeat 3 times. Combine that with his two victories over legendary Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey, and Tunneyï¿½s record becomes even more impressive.

Other Notable Fighters Records Joe Louis: 66-3 (52 KOs)ï¿½ lost twice late in his career. The ï¿½Brown Bomberï¿½ reigned for over a dozen years. Julio Cesar Chavez: 106-7-2 (86 KOs)ï¿½undefeated in his first 90 fights. Duilio Loi: 115-3-8 (26 KOs)ï¿½unheralded Italian lost only once in his first 110 bouts, and beat legendary Carlos Ortiz 2 out of 3 times. Marvin Hagler: 62-3-2 (52 KOs)ï¿½avenged his only two early-career losses, then went on a long unbeaten streak before dropping a controversial decision to Ray Leonard in his final fight. Carlos Monzon: 87-3-9 (59 KOs)ï¿½Middleweight legend incurred many early-career draws in Argentina where draws are much more common. Whereas most fighters end their careers badly, Monzon went unbeaten in his final 81 fights!

Eder Jofre: 72-2-4 (50 KOs)ï¿½Bantamweight and featherweight standout only lost to one opponent, fellow Hall of Famer Fighting Harada, during his nearly-20 year career. Archie Moore: 185-23-11 (131 KOs)ï¿½The ï¿½Mongooseï¿½ fought from 1935-1963, amassing more career knockouts than any fighter in history. You can't be a world class fighter but you can surely be part of the action keeping your own record on picking the winner of each fight that you bet on! You can use your credit card to do so. The best place to bet on boxing online is BetOnline . Free Boxing Picks Each week, Big Scotty L makes picks on upcoming boxing matches in an attempt to make a punching bag out of his bookie. Scotty is a GREAT boxing handicapper who offers tremendous insight on the fights and his knowledge isn't just limited to boxing matches in the USA. He has a broad knowledge of international fights as well. Follow Scotty each week as he previews the best fights of the week.

These fight previews can be found in the center section of this page. Good luck! Boxing Betting Bovada Sportsbook - Bet fights using your Visa card and to get generous sign up bonus at one of the internet's best places to wager on boxing. MyBookie - Bet on fights using your credit card at one of the web's best betting sites! They're one of the best at getting Visa cards to work for deposits. They'll also add a generous 50% welcoming bonus too! Boxing Betting Rules - Clear cut definitions of how the sportsbooks grade fights to determine if your bet is a winner or a loser. Two big questions are "what if the fight was a draw?" and "what if I have an over/under rounds bet and the fight ends early?" We have all the answers! Featured Articles Best Pound for Pound Fighters - Who are the top 10 best pound for pound boxers of all time? Scotty L gives his picks. Fight Records of Past Boxing Greats - Wins, losses, draws and Ko's of some of the best boxers to ever step foot in the ring. Sugar Ray Robinson, Cassius Clay, Rocky Marciano and more!

Famous Boxing Quotes - Funny, inspirational, and great sayings from Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and more! Muhammad Ali Biography - The life story of the greatest fighter of all time from his childhood to his last bout at age 39. What is a TKO? - Scotty explains what the TKO is in boxing and all the different ways that a fighter can win by the technical knockout. Undefeated heavyweight world champion, Boxing | Guinness World Records Undefeated heavyweight world champion, Boxing Share Where USA Rocky Marciano (USA) (b. Rocco Francis Marchegiano) (1923-69) is the only world champion at any weight to have won every fight of his entire completed professional career, from 17 March 1947-21 September 1955 (he announced his retirement on 27 April 1956); 43 of his 49 fights were by knock-outs or stoppages. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search.

(You will be need to register / login for access) 1000+ images about Rocky Marciano on Pinterest | September 1, The krays and The rock Fist of Boxing Heavyweight Contender Rocky Marciano Outside at His Training Camp at Grossinger's See More 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time | Made Man 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time Facebook Twitter Stumble Google+ Save Naming the 10 best heavyweight boxers of all time is not an easy task. There are several factors to be considered. Do you go purely by the win or loss record, or do you consider ticket sales, gross salary earned, or length of career? Whatever the measuring stick may be, these men are certainly among the best heavyweight boxers of all time. Muhammad Ali: 56 wins, 37 KO’s, 5 losses It’s very hard to argue against Ali as the best heavyweight boxer of all time. A three time world heavyweight champion, he also claimed the title “Sportsman of the Century” in 1999. The self proclaimed “Greatest of All Time” was also the first to win the title three times.

One has to wonder how he might have done if not for his incarceration for refusing induction. Rocky Marciano: 49 wins, 43 KO’s, 0 losses Marciano’s career as a heavyweight boxer is easily defined by its record; he is the one fighter to retire undefeated including a win over Joe Louis. Jack Johnson: 71 wins, 40 KO’s, 13 losses Jack Johnson, as the first ever African-American Heavyweight champion; smashed the colour barrier that divided boxing. With his fourteenth round TKO against Tommy Burns of Canada (he was refused title shots in the US), Johnson became the heavyweight boxing champ and paved the way for many of the other men on this list. Joe Louis: 66 wins, 52 KO’s, 3 losses “The Brown Bomber” held the world Heavyweight title from June of 1937 to June of 1948, with an astounding twenty-five successful title defenses during his reign. Louis was inducted into the boxing hall of fame in 1990. George Foreman: 76 wins, 68 KO’s, 5 losses George Foreman is a boxing living legend.

In addition to his numerous world titles, Foreman made one of the most successful comebacks in sports history. In 1994 at the age of 45, Foreman defeated Michael Moorer to regain the Heavyweight boxer crown. Joe Frazier: 32 wins, 27 KO’s, 4 losses “Smoking Joe” Frazier never set out to set the boxing world aflame. He began going to the gym to get himself into shape. But, one thing led to another, and he began competing. After the “Thrilla in Manilla”, Frazier proved he was indeed one of the greatest heavyweight boxers himself. Mike Tyson: 50 wins, 44 KO’s, 5 losses Mike Tyson became the youngest undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world, claiming the World Boxing Council strap at the tender age of twenty. Relatively small for a heavyweight boxer, Tyson battled with punching power, knocking out more than 90% of the men he faced. Lennox Lewis: 41 wins, 32 KO’s, 2 losses Standing 6’5”, Lewis was a determined fighter. He held various titles for a combined total of fifteen years.

Larry Holmes: 69 wins, 44 KO’s, 6 losses As a professional, Holmes beat a who’s who of great fighters like: Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, and Gerry Cooney. With twenty successful title defenses, he is second only to Joe Lewis Floyd Patterson: 55 wins, 40 KO’s, 8 losses After Rocky Marciano retired in 1956, Patterson took the mantle as top heavyweight boxer at the tender age of twenty-one years old. show comments Rocky Marciano - boxing Topics - ESPN Rocky Marciano Retirement Rocky Marciano was a heavyweight boxing champion. He retired as the only heavyweight champion in boxing history never to lose a professional fight. His thunderous right - which he nicknamed Suzie Q - was often credited with knocking out 43 of the 49 opponents he faced. Boxing historian Bert Sugar called Marciano the "hardest puncher in the history of the sport. Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Brockton, Mass. Rocky was one of six children born to Italian immigrants Pierino Marchegiano and Pasqualina Picciuto.

He grew up with a dream of making a career in either football or baseball. At Brockton High School he played on the football and baseball teams, but he was cut from the baseball team when he joined a church baseball league -- violating a school policy against players joining other teams. He dropped out of school after the 10th grade so he could work to help his poor family through the Great Depression. Among the odd jobs he had were working as a ditch digger, a gardener and leather tanner in the same shoe factory where his father worked. In March 1943, Marciano was drafted into the army and it was here that he got his first taste of boxing. Marciano opted to fight as a way to get out of doing kitchen duty and other unpleasant tasks and quickly found that he had a natural ability for it. While awaiting discharge in 1946, he won the amateur armed forces boxing tournament. On March 17, 1947, Marciano fought his first professional fight, knocking out Lee Epperson in the third round. Still, Marciano dreamed of playing professional baseball.

Later that month he and a few friends traveled to Fayetteville, N.C., to try out for a Chicago Cubs farm team. He tried out as a catcher but was cut after three weeks after learning that he did not have a strong enough right arm to throw to second base with any accuracy due to an arm injury he received in the army. He returned to Brockton and began seriously training as a boxer. A year later, he returned to amateur status to compete in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship Tournament and was beaten by Coley Wallace. He continued to fight as an amateur throughout that spring. His record as an amateur was an unimpressive 8-4. Marciano turned professional again on July 12, 1948, and as a professional won his first 16 bouts by knockouts -- all before the fifth round and nine before the first round even ended. Marciano -- who changed his name early in his career at the suggestion of his handler, Al Weill, because the ring announcer in Providence, R.I., could not pronounce Marchegiano -- began to see better opponents by mid-1949.

Don Mogard was the first boxer to go the distance with Marciano, on May 23, 1949, though Marciano won by unanimous decision. He continued to beat all the rest, most by knockout, to earn the nickname "The Rock from Brockton." Marciano's power was on display the night of Dec. 30, 1949, in Madison Square Garden when Marciano faced Carmine Vingo. Vingo came into the fight unbeaten in his last 12 bouts but Marciano knocked him down early for two nine counts -- once in the first round and again in the second round. The brutal contest finally came to an end in the sixth round when a crushing right from Marciano knocked Vingo unconscious. Vingo was rushed to a hospital, where he underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage. Marciano was so devastated by what had happened that he vowed never to fight again if Vingo did not survive. Vingo pulled through but was left partially paralyzed. Marciano later offered to pay some of Vingo's hospital bills and the two became friends. On March 24, 1950, Marciano faced arguably his toughest opponent, Roland La Starza.

Like Marciano, La Starza was undefeated when he climbed into the ring and fought a bout that nearly derailed Marciano's climb to the top. The fight went the distance -- 10 rounds. The split decision went Marciano's way but many in the crowd believed La Starza had won. The two met again in September 1953, one year after Marciano became heavyweight champion. The fight was close through the first six rounds, but then La Starza began to tire. By the time the fight was stopped by referee Ruby Goldstein in the 11th, La Starza had been mercilessly beaten and knocked through the ropes. He was hospitalized with a broken arm, several blood clots and in need of surgery. In one of his most celebrated fights, Marciano was matched against his boyhood idol, Joe Louis, the former heavyweight champ who was past his prime. Louis had come out of retirement to pay his bills and was still a formidable opponent who was determined to recapture the heavyweight crown. They went eight rounds on Oct. 26, 1951, before Marciano knocked him out, much to the chagrin of many boxing fans.

Marciano too felt terrible and went to Louis' dressing room after the fight and cried. Louis never fought again, and the nationally televised fight ensured Marciano a shot at the title. Heavyweight champion On Sept. 23, 1952, at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, Marciano squared off against champion Jersey Joe Walcott for his first shot at the title. It proved to be a grueling fight for Marciano, who, for the first time in his professional career, was decked in the first round by one of Walcott's left hooks. But instead of staying down, Marciano bounced back up madder than ever and shouted at a surprised Walcott. But Marciano was never in control, struggling throughout one round after the next. Walcott had cut him between the eyes and on his forehead. After the 12th round, Walcott was in total control and ahead on points. Marciano said later that he had been blinded for several of those rounds. As the 13th round began, Marciano could only claim victory with a knockout.

Thirty seconds later, he unleashed his right, a short overhand jab that slammed into Walcott's chin with such force that he dropped to one knee, hooked his left arm around the middle rope and dropped his head to the canvas. Walcott was out and Marciano was the new heavyweight champion. Marciano took on Walcott in a rematch on May 15, 1953, at Chicago Stadium and knocked him out at 2:25 in the first round. Marciano successfully defended his title another five times over the next few years. His last title bout came against Archie Moore on Sept. 21, 1955. Although he was knocked to the canvas in the second round, Marciano got up and knocked down Moore in the sixth and eighth rounds before knocking him out in the ninth."After a fight with Marciano, you felt like someone had been beating you all over the body with a blackjack, or hitting you with rocks," said Moore. Stature Marciano was an unlikely boxer, given his stature. He was only 5-foot-10 and change, and his weight hovered in the mid-180s. His reach of only 68 inches was well short for a typical heavyweight champion.

However, Marciano transformed his stature into an advantage. Under the tutelage of his trainer, Charley Goldman, Marciano learned to box from a crouched position, thus making himself even shorter and more difficult to hit. His jabs came straight up and with tremendous force. Marciano was once quoted as saying that his style benefited him because most of his opponents "wound up punching down at me," defusing much of the punch's power. An upward punch, on the other hand, carries increased power. That may be one reason that the only two fighters who knocked Marciano to the canvas, Walcott and Moore, were both Marciano's size. That fact, Marciano once said, negated the advantage he usually had in the ring. Conditioning Marciano kept in such superb physical condition that he was able to fight every few weeks or even days. In fact, after knocking out Harold "Kid" Mitchell in the second round on March 20, 1951, he climbed back into the ring six days later to knock out Art Henri in the ninth round.

And he needed only seven days' rest between his knockout of Johnny Pretzie in the fifth round on March 21, 1949, and his knockout in the first round of Artie Donato on March 28. Thirteen days later, he knocked out James Walls in the third round. Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956. He was 31 and the only man ever to retire as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world. He told the New York Times: "I thought it was a mistake when Joe Louis tried a comeback. No man can say what he will do in the future, but barring poverty, the ring has seen the last of me. I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future." The ring tempted him once more, however, just three years later. But after only a month of training, he hung up his gloves for good. He told reporters he wanted to spend more time his with family. In retirement, he made money from personal appearances. Although he never climbed into the ring again, he participated in a computerized matchup against Muhammad Ali.

In preparation for the event -- in which both boxers stepped into a ring and threw punches at each other -- Marciano lost 50 pounds and bought a toupee. A computer weighed all the variables from each fighter and determined that had the two really met in the ring, Marciano would have won with a 13th-round knockout. But Marciano never had a chance to see it. On August 31, 1969, three weeks after the completion of the computer fight, he took a private plane to Des Moines, Iowa, to make a personal appearance for a friend's son. But because of an inexperienced pilot and poor weather the plane crashed into a cornfield in Newton, Iowa, killing all three aboard. He was a day shy of his 46th birthday. Marciano was survived by his wife of 19 years, Barbara, and two children, Rocco Kevin and Mary Anne.

NEWS RESULTS FOR ROCKY MARCIANO 9 Greatest Undefeated Boxers of All Time 9 Greatest Undefeated Boxers of All Time by Rauf Arsehad | Posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2014 | 7 Floyd Mayweather Jr the one name who ranked top in this list with his outstanding unbeaten record, he has been on top of his game for his entire 20 year career in professional boxing. Today we take a look at top of the greatest undefeated boxers which include the likes of Edwin Valero, Laszlo Papp, Rocky Marciano and others. All them have finished their careers without a defeat. #1. Floyd Mayweather Jr (46 Fights – 46 Wins – 26 Ko’s): Since the day Floyd Mayweather Jr stepped in the Boxing ring to fight Roberto Apodaca he has been undefeated and no boxer ever came close to getting a win over Mayweather. His latest victim was Marcos Maidana who gave one of his toughest fights to date but in the end Maywaether was victorios and kept his unbeaten record which stands at 46-0 at the moment. Only questions is will he ever fight Manny Pacquioa ? #2.

Rocky Marciano (49 Fights – 49 Wins – 43 Ko’s) Rocky Marciano one of the best professional boxers of his time the undefeated champion. He laid the foundation of modern boxing and pay per view events, started his career back in 1947 with a fight against Lee Epperson and defeated him with a knockout win. He went on top fight 49 times and win all of them which include 43 wins in knockouts. #3. Ricardo Lopez (51 Fights – 50 Wins – 1 Draw – 38 Ko’s) Ricardo Lopez is one of the greatest boxer Mexico has ever produced, Since making his debut back in 1985 he fought 51 times in his career and won completed his 50 wins, only setback in his career was a draw against Rosendo Alvarez in 1998. His 50 wins inlcude 38 knockouts. #4. Packey McFarland (74 Fights – 69 Wins – 5 Draw) : Packey McFarland the legendary boxer from America.

Born in in 1988 Packey McFarland became a professional boxer in 1904, He fought 74 times his career and won 69 fights and drawn the other 5 and retired in 1915 as undefeated throughout his career. #5. Jimmy Barry ( 69 Fights – 59 Wins – `10 Draw – 39 Ko’s) Born in 1870, this Irish-American boxer Jimmy Barry made his debut in 1891 and fought more around 70 fights in his career and won 59 fights. 10 of his fights finished in no-results keeping him undefeated in his career. he was inducted in International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 for his massive boxing achievements. #6. Jack McAuliffe ( 36 Fights – 31 Wins – `5 Draw – 22 Ko’s) Jack McAuliffe is another great Irish-American boxer, Famously known as “Napoleon of the Ring” being one of the toughest boxer to have ever lived, In his all 36 official professional fights he remained undefeated winning 31 and 5 draws to his name. #7.

Joe Calzaghe ( 46 Fights – 46 Wins – 32 Ko’s) The Welsh wizard Joe Calzaghe made his debut in October 1993 and got his first pro win against Paul Hanlon in the debut fight and after that he never looked back. He fought most of his fights in United Kingdom and his wins include against the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. Although he is known widely for avoiding difficult fights. #8 : Laszlo Papp ( 29 Fights – 27 Wins – 2 Draw – 15 Ko’s) László Papp hailed from european country Hungry and he made his name in professional boxing. He fought 29 times in his career and won 27 fights drawing only two and finished his short but successfull career being unbeaten, he is one of only 9 professional boxers who fought more than 25 times and remained unbeaten. He turned professional later in his career he also won 3 Olympics gold medals for his native country Hungary. #9.

Edwin Valero ( 27 Fights – 27 Wins – 27 Ko’s) : The Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero who get the nick name of El Terminator for his outstanding winning run in the boxing he got into the ring 27 time and came out the winner in all of this bouts and most incredibly knocked out every opponent he faced. Its a great story though, before he turned professional boxer he had an accident on motobike which resulted in facture in the skull. So when he signed up for golden boy promotions and was scheduled to fight in US, he was denied license and could not fight at US soil. But he kept his professional career out of US before finaly returning to grace boxing in US. He was suspect of murder of his wife, arrested and he commit suicide in the cell by hanging himself. Tags “Although he is known widely for avoiding difficult fights.” that’s total and complete bullshit.

joe calzaghe was the most ducked and avoided fighter of his generation and perhaps of all time ottke turned down 2 offers to fight lucas turned down an offer to fight mundine turned down an offer to fight beyer turned down an offer to fight collins retired after he signed a contract to fight hopkins turned down an offer to fight roy was supposed to move down and fight calzaghe, he moved up and fought ruiz taylor turned down 2 offers to fight pavlik turned down 2 offers to fight froch turned down 2 offers to fight joe calzaghe was ducked like the plague. get your facts straight. kenhissner These 9 unbeaten fighters you show are great. Roman Gonzalez now at 45-0 will join that list. Recent Posts Rocky Marciano is the only undefeated Heavyweight champion Marciano vs Joe Louis Marciano defeated Louis in what would be the latter’s last career bout, a result that left him with mixed emotions, as Louis had been his childhood idol.

Championship fight – Marciano vs Joe Walcott In Philadelphia on September 23, 1952 Walcott dropped Marciano in the first round and steadily built a points lead; but in the thirteenth, Marciano knocked Walcott unconscious, and became the new world heavyweight champion. Marciano’s last title bout was against Archie Moore on September 21, 1955 and Marciano was knocked down for a four count in the second round but he recovered, and retained his title by knocking Louis out in round nine. Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956. The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. In July 1969, Marciano and Ali participated in the fictional boxing match where the two boxers were filmed sparring, then the film was edited to match a computer simulation of a hypothetical fight between them, each in their prime. It aired on January 20, 1970, with Marciano winning by knockout in round 13 in North American theaters and Ali winning in European theaters.

Photos of Rocky Marciano Rocky Marciano Rocky Marciano was a heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. BBC SPORT | Boxing | Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing Why I'm retiring - Calzaghe reveals his reasons exclusively to BBC Sport Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has announced his retirement. The 36-year-old Welshman, who reigned as a world champion for more than 11 years, quits the ring with a glittering record of 46 wins from 46 fights. "It was a difficult decision but I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing," he told BBC Sport. "I've been world champion for 11 years. I've got no other goals to go for.

That's why I am calling it a day." In an exclusive interview with BBC sports editor Mihir Bose, Calzaghe, who held the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super-middleweight belts during his 16-year professional career, said he had thought "long and hard" about retiring but insisted it was the right move. BEN DIRS BLOG Calzaghe deserves to sit alongside Ken Buchanan and Lennox Lewis as the greatest of Britain's post-war greats "I had a long think with my family," he said. "My children wanted me to give up, plus my mum. That's why I called it a day and will go on to do something else." Asked if he could ever be tempted back into the ring in the future, the Newbridge fighter replied: "My decision is to retire. I've been boxing for 25 years and, like I said, I've achieved everything I want to achieve. "You can never say never in this game, but I can't see myself boxing again. There's loads of things I want to do.

I'm proud to be one of only a few fighters in history to retire undefeated." Calzaghe, who was born in London but moved to Wales when he was two, chalked up an impressive record as an amateur, winning 110 of his 120 contests after taking up the sport at the age of nine. He began his professional career with a first-round stoppage of Paul Hanlon on 1 October, 1993, going on to win seven of his first nine bouts in round one. Trained by his father, Enzo, he became British super-middleweight champion in 1995 before capturing his first world title in 1997, outpointing Chris Eubank to claim the WBO crown. Calzaghe with his WBO and WBC super-middleweight belts Despite suffering from several hand injuries, Calzaghe defended the title a total of 21 times, adding the IBF version to his trophy cabinet with a stunning victory over American Jeff Lacy in March 2006.

He then claimed the WBA and WBC belts with what he feels was his most satisfying fight, a unanimous points win over Denmark's Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 4 November, 2007. "Unifying the super-middleweight division in front of 50,000 fans was a dream come true for me," he told BBC Sport. "I was fighting a younger fighter than me, I was the underdog. A lot of people thought I was going to lose that fight. It was a great night." Just a few weeks later, he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming a CBE soon afterwards, after being appointed an MBE in 2003. Calzaghe's final two fights cemented his reputation as one of Britain's greatest ever boxers. Stepping up to light-heavyweight and fighting in America for the first time, he won a split decision against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas to become 'The Ring' magazine's light-heavyweight champion. Calzaghe was 2007 BBC Sports Personality He then finished his career with a comprehensive points victory over the legendary Roy Jones Jr at New York's Madison Square Garden on 8 November.

Calzaghe, who will be 37 on 23 March, hinted before the fight with Jones that it would be his last, despite talk of a re-match with Hopkins. Fellow Briton Carl Froch, who took possession of Calzaghe's old WBC super-middleweight belt by beating Canadian Jean Pascal in December, was also eager to take him on. But Calzaghe resisted the lure of another big pay day and the chance to inch closer to heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano's record of 49 wins from 49 fights. Strawweight and light-flyweight Ricardo Lopez of Mexico, with 51 wins in 51 fights, also retired undefeated. Calzaghe, who has two sons, Connor and Joe, from his marriage to Mandy, says he now plans to concentrate on his charity work and becoming a boxing promoter. Now divorced and living with model girlfriend Jo-Emma, he also revealed he had several TV projects lined up.

Bookmark with: Boxing Historian - Boxing History, facts, stats, prizefighters, history Welterweight and Middle Weight Champion - 1950s Record: Won 56, Lost 16, Draws 7, KOs 27 A power-packed fighter from New York, Carmen Basilio captured the attention of boxing fans across the world during the mid-to-late-1950s. Rated as one of the top fighters in boxing history, he was a three-time welterweight champ and also won a 15 round decision over Sugar Ray Robinson to collect the middleweight crown in Sept 1957. In his first try at the world title, Basilio was kayoed in the 4th round by Kid Gavilan on Sept 18, 1953. Basilio came back and beat Tony DeMarco in a World Title bout in '55, and won again in their rematch in the same year - winning both fights with TKOs in the 12th round. Rocky Marciano 1923-1969 Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World Rocky Marciano retired as the only undefeated heavyweight champion in boxing history.

When he retired in April 1956, Marciano had a 49-0 record, and scored 43 wins by knockouts. He began boxing in the United States Army in 1943 and turned professional in 1947. Full of heart, brut power, and tenacity, Marciano wept after knocking out his boyhood hero, former heavyweight champion Joe Louis in 1951. In 1952, Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott to win the World Heavyweight Crown. He successfully defended his crown six times between 1953-1955. The world was deeply saddened to learn the news that Marciano died in a light plane crash in 1969. Gene Tunney Light Heavyweight 1922-23 and Heavyweight Champion 1926-1928 A slick boxer with a potent punch Gene Tunney was a champion in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

He was born James Joseph Tunney in New York City in 1897 and while a member of the US Marine Corps during World War I - 1914-1918 - won the championship of the American Expeditionary Force in Paris, France in 1919. In 1922 he was the American light heavyweight champ before losing it to Harry Greb. Tunney won the title back in 1923 in a rematch, then, abandoned it and turned heavyweight. In 1926 he won the World Heavyweight by beating Jack Dempsey. In their rematch the following year, Tunney again defeated Dempsey in a controversial bout during which Dempsey's delay in moving to a neutral corner after knocking Tunney to the canvas resulted in the famous 'long count' that allowed Tunney time to regroup and in, and retain his heavyweight crown. During 1928 Tunney retired after going undefeated during his heavyweight career. When World War II raged, Tunney headed the United States Navy physical fitness program.

Question: Which heavyweight boxer retired in 1956 with a record of 49 wins from 49 fights?
Answer: ROCKY MARCIANO